Setting means for electric time-switches.



A. w. VOEDISCH.)

SETTING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC TIME SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED NO\ .2. I916- RENEWED FEB. 7. 1918.

1,263,296. Patented Apr. 16, I9I8.

3 SHEEISSHEET l.

WITN ESSES AT I'O R N EY A. w. VOEDISCH. SETTING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC TIME SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-2, I9l6-,REIIEWED FEB. 7. I9I8.

Patented Apr. 16, 19I8.

3 SHEE'ISSHEET 2.

W V Zl/ dl/%NVENTOR illfred WITNESSES ATTORNEY A. W. VOEDISCHf SETTING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC TIME SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. Z1916. RENEWED FEB- 7.1918.

1,263,296, Patented Apr. 16, 1918..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lllil'll" INVENTOR A md VI? Fatwa/V,

BY 4 g ATTORNEY ALFRED WILLIAM VOEDISCH, OF ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SETTING MEANS FOR ELECTRIC TIMESWITCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application filed November 2, 1916, Serial No. 129,194. Renewed February 7, 1918. Serial No. 215,923.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED WV. VonDrsoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aberdeen, in the county of Brown and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and useful Setting Means for Electric Time- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to setting means for electric time switches, and its obj cct isto provide means for the separate operation of a plurality of switches and the control of the setting means by a single time piece.

The invention is an improvement upon the electric time switch shown in Letters Patent No. 1,143,869, granted to me on June 22, 1915, such patent illustrating a time movement and an electric switch operating means controlled thereby with setting mechanism so arranged that the switch may be actuated to close an electric circuit at a predetermined time and to thereafter open the circuit at a predetermined time.

For some purposes the time switch shown and described in the aforesaid Letters Patout is all that is needed. For some other purposes, it is desirable to be able to control two or more electric circuits at the same or diiferent times, but all by the same time piece, and it is to such an arrangement that the present invention is directed.

The invention provides a single time piece, which through suitable mechanism, such as shown in the aforesaid Letters Patent, is caused to actuate electric switches, the switches being controlled by fingers movable about dials to desired positions, which fingers are utilized to control the switch 0pcrating mechanism. The fingers are movable into different positions with relation to the dials, each dial carrying two fingers with pointers indicating the proper position of the fingers on the dial, and the several dials are all connected up to the time movement to be driven thereby in order that the preset fingers may cause the operation of the switch mechanisms at the desired times.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications come within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a face view of a time piece equipped with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a face view of the time movement with the releasing mechanism thereon, all other parts being omitted and some parts being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2, but omitting the major portion of the time movement.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line l l of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view of one of the dials.

Fig. 6 is a face view of a washer.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are detail perspective views of different controlling fingers associated with the respective dials.

Fig. 10 is a face view of a three-switch construction with the casing in section and the dial removed.

Fig. 11 is a detail view of one of the trip or release devices for the switch actuating mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 1212 of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a casing 1, inclosing electric time switch mechanism to be described. This casing is provided with a dial plate 2 having the usual numbers 3 indicating hour divisions, and with time indicating hands 4., 5. The dial is pierced by a plurality of openings 6.

Within the casing 1, there is lodged a time movement 7 indicated generally by the top plate 8 and some wheels of the movement. Extending through the top plate 8 is the usual minute arbor 9 carrying the customary pinion 10, hour gear wheel 11 and sleeve 12 for receiving the hour hand, these parts being all of the usual construction customarily found in time pieces. Instead of the usual reducing gear between the pinion 10 and gear wheel 11, there is a plurality of such gear wheels 13 meshing with the pinion 10 and each provided with a pinion 1st meshing with the gear wheel 11. The gear wheels 13 with the pinion's 11 are mounted upon studs 15 equidistautly arranged about the arbor 9, so that the gear wheels 13 in the particular showing of the drawings are disshort lugs 23,

posed 120 degrees apart, although there may be any other suitable disposition of these gear wheels.

Rising from the plate 8 in the same spaced relation as the gear wheels 13 are posts 16 equal in number to the gear wheels 13. On each post there is mounted a sleeve 17 carrying a gear wheel 18 in mesh with a respective one of the pinions 14. The sleeve 17 is formed at an appropriate point with a circumferential shoulder 19 and at the end remote from the gear wheel 18 the sleeve is screw-threaded, as shown at 20. The sleeve 17 is long enough to project beyond the free end of the post 16 and is there countersunk to receive the head of a screw 21 threaded into the end of the post 16. The screw serves to hold the sleeve on the post. The outer end of the sleeve, that is the end re mote from the gear wheel 18 is formed with a longitudinal groove for reception of 24 on a disk 25 and washer 26, respectively, so that the disk 25 and washer 26 rotate with the sleeve 17, the latter being fast to the gear wheel 18 in mesh with a respective one of the pinions 14. Fast on the sleeve 17 and lodged against the shoulder 19 is a disk 27 and adapted to screw upon the threaded end of the sleeve 17 is a clamp nut 28 formed on the clamping face with a circular clamping flange 29.

The disk has one face provided with a circular series of radial lines 30 with num bers 31 individual to certain of the lines, and about one half of the disk on the numbered face is characteristically different in appearance from the other half. This is indicated in the drawings by a shaded portion 32, while the other half of the disk indicated at 33 may have quite a different appearance. The purpose of the differing appearance of the two halves of the face of the disk is that they may indicate night time and day time, for which reason it is customary to make the shaded half 32 black and leave the other half 33 in the natural color of the metal, usually brass, of which the disk is made. Of course, other arrangements may be employed. When the portion 32 of the disk intended to indicate night time is black, then the numbers may be made to appear white, but this is a common expedient, and no attempt is made to indicate it in the drawings, where the numbers are shown all alike, that is,

' black.

Associated with the disks 25, which are in the nature of dials so far as their visible faces are concerned, are pointers 34 on the ends of arms 35 radiating from disks 36, 37 and 38 each provided with a central passage 39 of a size to freely yet snugly fit over the reduced end of a respective sleeve 17. The disk 36 has an arm 40 projecting therefrom in substantially tangential relation to the disk and to the arm 35 thereof and on the same side of the disk as the arm 35. The disk 37 has a similar arm 41 rojecting tangentially therefrom, but on the side thereof remote from the arm 35 and at substantially right angles to said arm 35. The disk 38 has an arm 42 projecting therefrom in substantially tangential relation thereto but in a direction opposite to the direction of rojection of the arm 35 of the disk 38. ach arm 40, 41 and 42 has its outer extremity beveled as shown at 43. Each sleeve 17 carries a pair of disks 36, 37 or 38, as the case may be, and the disks are separated by a washer 26. To the pair of disks upon a respective post 17 is applied one of the disks or dial plates 25, with the arms 40, 41, or 42, as the case may be, underriding the dial disk and the pointer 34 embracing the periphery of the disk. By this arrangement, the pointers 34 not onl Y serve as pointers but as finger holds whereby an operator may turn the arms or fingers 40, 41 or 42, as the case may be, into different relations to the numbers 31 on the respective dials 25. Such adjustment of the pointers results in a corre- 9 spending adjustment of the arms 40, 41 and 42, which arms are suitably arran ed with respect to the electrical side of the device to cause the actuation of the switches at the desired time. 0

In the particular showing of Fig. 10 the clock movement 8 is mounted upon a plate 44 also carrying a suitable number of other movements 45 of the general character known as striking movements, that is, each 1 movement is provided with a power sprin and train of gearing and with holding an release devices permitting the strikin movement when released to run for a brie period I after which the running movement is ar- 1 rested and held until again released. Such movements are of well known construction and need no special description.

Associated with each striking movement 45 is a gear wheel 46 with a stop member or abutment 47 thereon. Mounted upon a. suitable yoke 48 carried by the respective movement 45 is a pin 49 capable of slidin in the direction of its length in the yoke an carrying at an appropriate block 50 so positioned that when the pin 49 moved lengthwise in an appropriate direction the cone block will engage a portion 51 r of a holding member forming part of the striking movement and actuate such mem- 1 her to the release position. At the sume time the pin 49 is moved into the path of the abutment 47 thus holding the striking movement from actuation even though it be released from its normal holding devices. The pin 49 at the end remote from that designed to be moved into the path of the abutment 47 has a head 52 which is also of cone or wedge shape, and between this headand the yoke 48 the pin is surrounded by a 1 vol l point a wedge or cone i l spring 53. The cone 50 serves as a stop preventing the spring 53 from moving the pin 49 for more than a limited distance out of the pathof the abutment 47.

Mounted on the frame of the striking movement is a post 54: carrying a rocker arm 55 at a point about midway of the length of the arm. At one end of the arm 55 there is a roller 56 located to engage the cone head 52 and at the other end the arm 55 has an extension 57 located between two spaced pins 58 carried by the frame or face plate of the striker movement and permitting a limited play of the rocker arm on the post The end 57 of the rocker arm is in the path of the beveled extremities 43 of such of the arms 40, ll or 4:2 as may be associated with the respective disks or dials 25.

Each striker movement carries and actuates a pinion 59 meshing with the gear wheel 60 on the arbor of an electric switch 61 which may be of the rotary snap type or of any other suitable construction andneeds no special description. Connected to each switch are conductors 62 leading from the casing 1 to the point of utilization.

Let it be assumed that the time switch is properly installed, say, in a store, and that the proprietor of the store desires that lights shall be cut in and out automatically at different times. Suppose, for instance, that it is desirable that the store light shall go on at, say, six oclock P. M. and be extinguished at ten oclock P. M. The pointers on one of the dials are set as six and ten, respectively, on the night side of the dial. Suppose, again, that it is desirable to have some other lights burn for a longer time than the store lights, as, for instance, an electric sign. Then a second one of the setting mechanisms is properlv positioned, so that the pointers are located at six P. M. and 12 P. M. on the dial, if such be the chosen times.

Again, it may be that the proprietor of the store desires another light to burn all night, and then the respective arms are so set that the pointers are located at, say, six P. M. and 5 A. M., respectively.

The dials 25 progress with the forward travel of the clock movement and ultimately a proper one of the arms 40, ll or L2, as the case may be, is brought into engagement with the end 57 of a respective rocker arm 55. This causes a corresponding movement of. the roller 56 into engagement with the head 52 with the result that the corresponding pin 49 is moved lengthwise against the action of the spring 53 until the cone or wedge 50 moves the release member 51 to the released position, but the movement of the pin 6L9 has brought it into the path of the abutment 47 on thegear wheel 46 forming part of the strikermovement. The result is that the striker movement is relocked temporarily and this relocking continues until the respective arm 4L0, a1 or 42-has passed by the end 57 of the rocker arm 55, whereupon the roller 56 serving as a gravity member or counterweight returns the rocker arm 55 to its first position andthis move ment is assisted by the expansion of the spring previously compressed by the actuation of the pin l9. The result is that the pin 49 returns to its first position, releasing the abutment -l7, butthe first re lease of the striker movement has permitted the gear wheel 46 to turn sufficiently before the pin 49 catches the abutment 47 to bring the striker movement outof its normally locked position. The result is that when the pin 49 moves out of the path of the abutment 47 the locking mechanism for the striker movement is no longer effective and the striking movement runs for a limited period until. the latch mechanism of the striking movement once more stops it. This running of the striking movement is sufficient to turn the respective switch 60 from one position to another. For instance, if the switch be in the oif position when started it will move to the on position, and if it be in the on or closed position it will move to the off or open position.

The continued progress of the time movement will ultimately bring another one of the switch releasing structures into action and a second switch is caused to move to the desired position. If the structure ineludes three switches then at the proper time the third switch is actuated. The same procedure occurs with respect to the opening of the switches if the first movement has been a closing movement.

.The particular examples given are sufficient to illustrate the way in which the invention may be operated, and while the time switch has been described as applicable to cutting on and off electric lights, it will be understood that it may be employed for other purposes, wherever it may be found to be useful.

lVhenever it is desired to reset the times of operation of the switches the clamp nuts 28 may be loosened, whereupon the arms 40, a l or L2, as the case may be, are readily turned into newly adjusted positions to be again clamped against accidental turning and to move with the parts carrying them.

To aid in the clamping of the parts by the portioned that each dial plate 25 rotates once in twenty-four hours, wherefore a visible differentiation of the observed face of each dial plate readily distinguishes the day and night sections of the dial plate.

It is only necessary that the numbered faces of the dial plates, the clamp nuts 28 and the pointers 34 be visible and accessible through the clock dial. The other parts are all located back of the clock dial and hence are out of sight.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric time switch structure, comprising a time movement, a plurality of electric switches associated with the time movement, a corresponding number of actuating niechanisn'is for the switches, and setting and release devices also associated with the time movement and in number equal to and also individual to the respective electric switches and actuating means therefor, whereby the switches may be actuated by the single clock movement in any predetermined order and at any predetermined time with respect to the clock movement.

2. In a setting mechanism for electric time switches, a time movement, a plurality of dials connected in common to the time movement for actuation thereby, a corresponding plurality of switches and actuating devices therefor, and operating devices associated with each dial and movable with and adjustable independently of the dial for individually controlling respective ones of the electric switches.

3. In a setting mechanism for electric time switches, a time movement, a series of electric switches, a similar series of setting dials arranged about the time arbor of the time movement and connected to a member of the time movement common to all the dials for the simultaneous actuation of the dials, setting devices associated with the dials for movement with and independently of the dials, and means between the dials and the respective switches for causing the actuation of the switches at the times preset on the dials.

4. In a setting mechanism for electric time switches, a time movement, a series of setting dials arranged about the time arbor of the time movement and connected to a member of the time movement common to all the dials for the simultaneous actuation of the dials, setting devices associated with the dials for movement with and independently of the dials, each dial having two setting devices movable independently of each other for setting and each comprising a pointerarm with a ointer end in operative relation to the dlal and another arm fast to and movable with the pointer arm, and devices in the path of each of the lastnamed arms for causing the release of the switch actuating mechanism.

5. In a setting mechanism for electric time switches, a time movement provided with a minute hand arbor and hour hand gearing with a plurality of like interme diate gear wheels between the minute hand arbor and the part of the hour hand earing for carrying the hour hand, gear w eels in number corresponding to the number of intermediate gears and driven thereby, sleeves fast to the gear wheels, dials on the sleeves and movable therewith, and setting devices on each sleeve associated with the dial and movable with and adjustable about the sleeve independently of the movements of the latter.

(5. In a setting mechanism. for electric time switches, a time movement provided with a minute hand arbor and hour hand gearing with a plurality of like intermediate gear wheels between the minute hand arbor and the part of the hour hand aring for carrying the hour hand, gear wi eels in number corresponding to the number of intermediate gears and driven thereby, sleeves fast to the gear wheels, dials on the sleeves and movable therewith, and setting devices on each sleeve associated with the dial and movable with and adjustable about the sleeve independently of movements of the sleeve, the setting devices including actuating and manipulating arms with the latter provided with ointers in operative relation to the visible aces of the respective dials.

7 In electric time switches, a time movement, a series of setting dials arranged about the time arbor of the time movement and connected to a member of the time movement common to all the dials forthe simultaneous actuation of the dials, electric switches grouped about the time movement, actuating mechanisms for the switches'aaeeciated with and individual thereto, release devices individual to the respective switch actuating mechanisms, setting devices associated with the dials for movement with and independently of the dials, and a release device for each switch-actuating device and associated with the setting devices of the respective dials, ating mechanism is released to move the switch at the time for which the respective dial is preset.

8. In a settlng mechanism for electric time switches, a time movement, an electric I,

switch, a dial connected to and actuated by the time movement, arms on the dill and i movable about the latter for presetting, e driving movement for the switch, and means for releasing the driving movement b thei preset part of the dial comprising a ongi- 3 tudinally movable in,

a rocker arm with wedge connections tween the rocker arm and pin to translate rocklng movements of the arm into longitudinal movements of th l l i i whereby each switch actu- 1 pin With said arm in the path of the setting mechanism on the dlal, and means associated with the driving mechanism of the as my own I have hereto affixed my signature 1n the presence of tWo Witnesses.

switch and located in the path of the pin ALFRED WILLIAM VOEDISCH 5 for holding the driving mechanism still so lVitnesses:

long as the pin is. engaged by the arm. ROBERT WEBER,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing RAYMOND G. Honrs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). 0. 

